"It's a very simple game. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains."
(Bull Durham)

Friday, January 30, 2009

2008-2009 Bucco Hot Stove

Hey, it may seem like not much has gone down, but the suits have been busy, if not notably productive, during the current Hot Stove session. The moves since November:

* January

1/30/09: Re-signed LHP Paul Maholm to a three-year contract ($14.5M) with a club option for 2012 ($23M). Signed OF Eric Hinske to a one-year contract ($1.5M). DFA'ed TJ Beam.

1/26/09: Claimed RH starter Virgil Vasquez off waivers from the San Diego Padres, adding him to the 40-man roster.

1/21/09: Re-signed RHP Jason Davis to a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training. Signed C Erik Kratz, who had been with the Blue Jays, to a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training, and RH reliever Eddie Pena from independent Worcester for minor league depth. Free agent IF Luis Rivas signed with the Cubs.

1/19/09: Signed LHP Paul Mildren from Florida to a Minor League contract.

1/13/09: Re-signed C Miguel Perez to a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training. Signed OF Craig Monroe, who had been with the Twins, to a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training.

1/9/09: Free agent Chris Gomez signs with the Orioles.

1/6/09: Signed IF Anderson Machado, who had been with the Mets, and IF Pedro Lopez, who had been with the Blue Jays, to Minor League contracts and invited them to Spring Training. Re-signed LH starter Corey Hamman.

* December

12/30/08: Signed RH starter Sean Smith, 25, of Colorado and Cleveland; RH reliever Lincoln Holdzkom, of Boston; C/1B Zach Booker of Cleveland; and LH reliever Edwin Walker of the Frontier League. Signed OF Jonel Pacheco. None were given an invite to camp.

12/22/08: Signed arbitration-eligible C Ryan Doumit for three years ($11.5M) plus a club option for an additional two years ($26.5M). Also signed IF Garrett Jones of the Twins, RHP Juan Mateo, RHP Chris Bootcheck of the Angels, IF Andy Phillips of the Reds, and OF Jeff Salazar of the D-backs to Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training. Invited non-roster RHP Daniel McCutchen and OF Andrew McCutchen to Spring Training. Busy day!

12/19/08: Signed RHP Denny Bautista to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

12/18/08: OF Chris Duffy signs with the Brew Crew.

12/15/08: Free agent OF Jason Michaels signs with the Astros.

12/12/08: Signed INF Ramon Vazquez to a two-year contract ($4M). Non-tendered RHP Denny Bautista, who was arbitration eligible as a "Super Two" player.

12/11/08: Selected LHP Donald Veal from the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft. Lost LH starter Kyle Bloom to the Tigers.

12/8/08: Signed RHP Brian Slocum to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

12/5/08: Signed LHP Daniel Haigwood to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Signed OF Maiko Loyola of the Indians to a Minor League contract. Sent C Raul Chavez and RHP Jason Davis (he was arbitration eligible) to Triple-A Indianapolis. Chavez went to Toronto; Davis re-upped.

* November

11/24/08: Signed RH Dinesh Kumar Patel and LH Rinku Singh, Indian pitchers who got a tryout thanks to a reality TV show.

11/20/08: Purchased the contract of RHP Ronald Uviedo from Single-A Lynchburg. Purchased the contract of C Steven Lerud, OF Jose Tabata and RHP Jeff Sues from Double-A Altoona. Purchased the contract of INF Neil Walker from Triple-A Indianapolis. These guys were all added to the 40-man roster.

11/3/08: Purchased the contract of RHP Evan Meek from Triple-A Indianapolis and put him on the 40-man roster.

11/1/08: Signed SS Mpho "Gift" Ngoepe from South Africa.

And hey, that's not all they did. They just missed out on Tim Redding, Daniel Cabrera, Rocco Baldelli and Derrick Turnbow, so we're told, dangled Jack Splat for months without a bite, cleared their bench (literally), hired a new radio announcer, two new coaches, and five new assistants to the GM, turned over their entire minor league managerial staff, drafted Pedro and a gang of hot shots, invaded Latin America, and kissed Kevin McClatchy, John Van Benschoten, and Bryan Bullington goodbye. Smokin' Hot Stove season, hmmmm?

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